13:50 Aintree

Sunday 27 October 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Play Casino At Virgin Bet Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 6m 34.0s

Captain Redbeard²⁰⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 144

6/1

Took the prize scalp of Definitly Red in a match at Kelso (2m7f, good) in February; rounded off the season with a completion (16th) in the Grand National; has no issues with a rain-softened surface.

Form: 396130-

Theatre Guide^b,t¹⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140

7/1

Would surely have beaten today's rival Carole's Destrier but for a desperate mistake at the final fence at Newbury (3m2f) in March; had previously finished a distant second to Houblon Des Obeaux in a veterans' chase at Sandown; has had a recent run.

Form: 7/0022-6

Killaro Boy^h¹¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: L Heard| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 137| D

11/2

Formerly with Adrian Murray in Ireland; has made a pleasing start for Henry Oliver (12), beaten by just a nose in the Listed Summer Cup at Uttoxeter (3m2f, good) in June; 5lb higher here, but has won on soft and heavy ground in the past.

Form: 9775-12

Burtons Well⁶⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 133| BF

11/2

Useful novice chaser who has had his issues and sadly that has prevented him from fulfilling his true potential; absent since finishing seventh of nine in the Grade 3 BetBright Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (2m5f) on New Year's Day 2018 (664 days).

Form: 214F27/

Our Kaempfer³⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 132

13/2

Hacked up (7L winner) in a Cl2 Handicap Chase at Kempton (3m, good to soft) in January 2017; has bits and pieces of respectable form since (without winning); off the track for 358 days since finishing third to Forest Des Aigles at Ayr last November.

Form: 96/5453-

Monbeg River^p1⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 130

5/1

Finished second (just in front of Our Kaempfer) at Ayr (2m5½f, good) last November and was highly tried in Listed races thereafter (including the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster); cheekpieces are applied following a seasonal pipe-opener at Listowel.

Form: F/3225-4

On Tour¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130| C

3/1

Weakened when finishing 20L fifth of 18 in the 3m1f Grade 3 Betway Handicap Chase here (good) in April; returned to action with a rock-solid second to Vieux Lion Rouge at Chepstow (2m7½f, soft) a fortnight ago - had Theatre Guide behind.

Form: 563P5-2

Non-Runners

Indian Temple³²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: T Reed J: Non Runner

Carole's Destrier¹⁹⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: N P Mulholland J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

On Tour (3/1), Monbeg River (5/1), Burtons Well (11/2), Killaro Boy (11/2), Captain Redbeard (6/1), Our Kaempfer (13/2), Theatre Guide (7/1), Carole's Destrier (7/1), Indian Temple (12/1)

These veterans' chases are growing in popularity amongst racing professionals and racegoers alike. The Evan Williams-trained On Tour found only the former Becher Chase winner Vieux Lion Rouge stronger (Theatre Guide behind) on his return to action at Chepstow a fortnight ago and has strong claims if able to reproduce that kind of form from a 3lb higher mark. Carole's Destrier stays longer than the mother-in-law and this race will probably help set him up for a return to his beloved Newbury in the weeks and months ahead. However, the improving KILLARO BOY gets the relatively firm nod after an agonising defeat in the Listed Summer Cup at Uttoxeter (3m2f) in June.